Loving Him Was Just My Day Job

Everyone in New York knew I loved Gavin Hayes to my very core. To keep him from having to drink, I drank in his place until my stomach bled. When he mentioned wanting the first batch of orange-blossom cakes from a bakery uptown, I spent the entire night outside its doors in the freezing wind. Even after he abandoned me on a remote mountain, forcing me to walk twenty-five miles back to the city alone, I still showed up in front of him on time the next morning. Just when everyone thought I would never marry anyone but him, I vanished. Please. Who finishes a job and sticks around to work overtime for free? “You’re not seriously going to marry Julia Reed, are you?” one of Gavin’s friends teased from inside the private karaoke room. I stopped with my hand on the door and listened for Gavin’s answer. He didn’t disappoint. “Why pay for something I can get for free?” The room erupted in laughter. It went on for a long time. Picking the right moment, I pushed open the door and rushed over to Gavin. “Where are you hurt? Is it bad? Let me see…” I frantically ran my hands over him, taking the opportunity to cop a feel in plain sight. The laughter, which had begun to fade, erupted all over again. Even someone as clueless as me could tell something was wrong. Someone clapped Gavin on the shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up. “You’re unbelievable, man. One sentence and you win. Fine. A bet’s a bet.” I stared blankly at Gavin, realizing I’d been played. My nose stung, and tears gathered in my eyes. Under the room’s colorful lights, Gavin gave me an indifferent glance. A false smile touched his eyes. “We made a bet to see whose girlfriend loved him more. You love me so much. You wouldn’t want me to lose, would you?” His voice was tender, his expression affectionate. I stared at that devastatingly handsome face and nodded before I could help myself. Then I gently wiped away my tears and sighed in relief. “So it was just a game. As long as you’re not hurt. You have no idea how worried I was when I heard.” Silence fell. Nobody had expected me to love Gavin this much. I didn’t even mind being made a fool of. Scene complete. Just as I was about to find an excuse to leave, Gavin spoke again. “Since you’re here, why don’t you pour drinks for the guys?” Some looked shocked. Others looked amused. All of them quietly watched for my reaction. Without a care for my trampled dignity, I agreed at once. “Sure.” My real name was Chloe Bennett. I was twenty-four, just another underpaid worker at the bottom of the ladder. I had no father, no mother. All I had was my elderly grandmother, and we depended on each other. On my twenty-fourth birthday, Grandma was diagnosed with severe cirrhosis. The doctor said her liver was beyond saving. Only a transplant could keep her alive. But… the treatment would cost eight hundred thousand dollars. For someone as broke as me, that was an astronomical sum. To raise the money, I collected recyclables, tutored, and delivered takeout. I did everything I could, but I only managed to scrape together two hundred thousand. Just when I had nowhere left to turn, something calling itself a System found me. It told me that a dimensional collapse had thrown a fictional world into chaos. If I agreed to enter that world as a romance agent and help restore its storyline, I would receive a thirty-million-dollar bonus. Thirty million. What an irresistible number. It would cover Grandma’s treatment and leave more than enough for us to live happily once she recovered. I signed the contract without a second thought. A second later, I was transported into this world.This was an old-school romance novel with a painfully predictable plot. The male lead, Gavin Hayes, and the second female lead, Sophie Morgan, were childhood sweethearts. Their families were equally wealthy and powerful. He was handsome and accomplished; she was beautiful and brilliant. After graduation, Sophie refused to settle into marriage so young and decided to study abroad. Unable to change her mind, Gavin broke up with her. Losing Sophie left him miserable, until the heroine, Julia Reed, came along and showed an interest in him. Julia came from a poor family. A small kindness Gavin had shown her as a child had made her fall for him, but with Sophie around, she’d never dared confess. Now Sophie was gone and Gavin was single again. Julia finally found the courage to approach him. As for Gavin, why turn down an attractive, intelligent woman who delivered herself right to his door? From the beginning, he treated Julia like an obedient pet. Whenever she showed a little temper, he threatened to break up with her. Given enough time, even the most rebellious dog could be trained. Three years later, Sophie returned from abroad. Gavin rekindled their old flame while stringing Julia along, refusing to break up with her. He was dating both of them. After being hurt by his favoritism over and over, Julia finally lost hope. She decided to leave and give the golden couple her blessing. Once Julia was gone, Gavin realized he’d fallen in love with her without noticing. Cue the groveling and the desperate attempts to win her back. Eventually, he got the girl, and they lived happily ever after. The System told me the employee originally assigned to play Julia had quit because she couldn’t stand Gavin’s endless cruelty. Before leaving, she’d ripped the author to shreds in her resignation letter. But this world was already running, and none of the other employees could take over on short notice. So they’d picked a lucky stranger off the street. “The heroine endures countless hardships, including physical suffering and emotional humiliation. Are you sure?” That was what the System had asked before I signed. I looked at the words “THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS” printed on the contract and signed Chloe Bennett on the employee’s line without hesitation. “I’m sure.” More than hardship, I feared losing the person I loved. Physical pain and invisible things like dignity were nothing. I would even give my life if it meant saving Grandma’s. I picked up a bottle and was about to pour into the neatly arranged glasses when Gavin suddenly stopped me. “Wait.” “Looks like Gavin does care about his girl.” “Even a hero can’t resist a beautiful woman. You’re going soft on us, Gavin!” “What are you talking about? He’s just a devoted boyfriend.” …Teasing voices rose from every direction. Even I was confused. Had Gavin broken character? I immediately tensed. Did that mean I wouldn’t get my bonus? While I was panicking, Gavin said lazily, “Julia, my friends are used to being waited on. Be a sweetheart and pour on your knees.” I let out a breath of relief. His friends, meanwhile, exploded into disbelief, staring at him. Ignoring every look directed his way, Gavin pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. “I know it’s unfair to you. But you know how much they mock me for dating someone from your background. Just do it for me, okay?” I glanced at him and answered obediently, “Okay.” It was just pouring drinks on my knees. Compared to thirty million dollars, what was that? Under everyone’s shocked stares, I knelt and filled the glasses one by one. Once they were full, I picked one up and shuffled toward each guest on my knees, bowing like a servant from another century. “Your drink.” Nobody dared take it. “Go ahead.” Gavin raised an eyebrow and draped an arm over the shoulders of the man in front of me. “It’s on me.” “Thanks, Gavin.” With his permission, the man relaxed and accepted the glass. By the time I’d made the rounds, my knees had gone numb with pain. While everyone drank, I braced a hand on the floor and eased myself into a corner to recover. Someone noticed and tapped Gavin’s shoulder, then pointed me out when he looked over in confusion. “Julia,” Gavin said. “It’s getting late. Go home.” “Have fun with everyone.” Fighting the sharp pain in my knees, I staggered to my feet and added reluctantly, “Keep an eye on the time. Don’t stay up too late. It’s bad for you.” “Yeah, yeah. Go.” Gavin waved impatiently. Silently relieved, I opened the door and limped out. Behind me, someone loudly flattered him. “Nobody’s got game like Gavin. All he has to do is crook a finger, and he gets whatever he wants.” “Tell me about it,” another voice chimed in. “I heard Julia threatened to kill herself when he tried to dump her.” “He’s right, though. If she’s throwing herself at him, why turn her down?” … More ugly remarks poured into my ears. I walked down the stairs with a hand against the wall, completely unmoved. After a two-hour subway ride, I reached my hundred-square-foot rental, tossed aside my jacket, and collapsed onto the bed. The soft comforter enveloped me, and I let out a long breath.After lying there for half an hour, I recovered enough energy to get up. I dug a pain-relief spray out of the cabinet and sprayed my bruised knees generously. Then I secured my rolled-up pant legs with rubber bands and lay back down. Lying in my own bed, mindlessly scrolling through my phone, was the best part of every day. I didn’t have to worry about Grandma’s medical bills or deal with a headache of a job. At times like this, I could just be me. A notification popped up at the top of my screen. It was from Ethan Cole, one of Gavin’s closest friends. “Julia, Gavin’s wasted. He refuses to leave unless you come get him.” I closed my eyes, trying to pretend I hadn’t seen this demand for overtime. But the amount on my contract flashed through my mind. In the end, I surrendered to my corporate overlords. “Okay, I’ll be right there. Please keep an eye on him. Don’t let him do anything stupid.” After replying, I quickly got dressed, grabbed my bag, and headed for the karaoke lounge. More than two hours on the subway later, I pushed open the door to a completely empty room. I knew almost instantly that I’d been played again. My first, very human reaction was sheer fury. My finger hovered over the FaceTime icon for a long time. In the end, I gave in. Chloe Bennett, get a grip. This is a job. You need the money. Yes. I needed the money. After calming myself down, I took a photo of the empty room and sent it to Ethan. “Where are you guys? I don’t see anyone.” About twenty minutes later, he finally replied. “Sorry, Julia. We moved to a club. Really sorry to make you come all this way again.” It was a voice message. Beneath the noisy background, I could hear faint laughter. “You’re a genius. You’ve got a new trick for messing with her every time.” I looked at the location, more than fifteen miles from the karaoke lounge, and replied, “Okay. I’ll be right there.” An hour and a half later, I arrived outside the city’s biggest nightclub. Following Ethan’s directions, I quickly found their booth. “Julia, you’re here.” The moment Ethan saw me, he hastily pulled the woman out of Gavin’s lap. “This is my girlfriend. She was just playing a game with Gavin. Don’t get the wrong idea.” The Hayes family was one of the most powerful families in New York. Without Gavin’s permission, who would dare get that close to him?I knew perfectly well, but I pretended otherwise and asked anxiously, “Why did you let him drink so much? Didn’t I ask you to look after him?” Another friend, Ryan Brooks, apologized. “Sorry, Julia. Gavin… We really couldn’t stop him…” Watching his award-worthy performance, I sighed guiltily. “I know how stubborn he is. Sorry.” “It’s fine. You’re just worried about him.” Ryan hauled Gavin upright with some effort, and I quickly reached out to take over. Drunk as he was, Gavin put his entire weight on me. Even though I’d braced myself, the weight of a grown man still made me stagger. “Careful!” Ethan quickly caught me before I fell. “I’m fine.” I gave him a polite smile. “I’ll take him home. You guys should call it a night soon, too.” “Will do. Bye, Julia!” “See you!” … I hailed a cab and took Gavin back to the nearby apartment where he usually stayed. Looking at the drunken heap of him, reeking of alcohol, I sighed and removed his shoes and socks. Just as I reached for his jacket, he gagged. A second later, he threw up all over me. I immediately tried to get to the bathroom to wash it off, but Gavin grabbed me and pulled me into his arms. He might have been trying to kiss me. Instead, the smell of his own vomit on me made him gag, and he threw up again. … Rage surged through me, but I didn’t dare take a deep breath in case I threw up, too. This damn job… After struggling free of Gavin’s grip, I rushed to the bathroom and washed myself clean. I was so disgusted I stripped off the soiled clothes and threw them straight into the trash. Thank goodness I had fleece-lined layers underneath. Otherwise, I would’ve frozen half to death. Once that was done, I returned to the bedroom and started taking off Gavin’s jacket. Even that drunk, he couldn’t keep his hands to himself. “Host, are you all right?” the System suddenly asked. “What’s wrong?” I froze, instantly tense. I was terrified I’d made a mistake and ruined everything. “Is there a problem?” “No. I’m only reminding you that, according to the plot, the intoxicated male lead will mistake the heroine for the second female lead tonight and… Are you prepared?” I glanced at Gavin, who was groping blindly with his eyes shut, and said calmly, “It’s fine. At least he’s top-shelf merchandise, right?” “Understood. Please continue with the storyline. We will do everything we can to prepare a replacement.” As the last mechanical syllable faded, Gavin’s kiss landed on me. “Sophie…” His breath brushed my ear, his voice dangerously seductive. “Don’t leave. Please…” I sighed, filled my eyes with love, and wrapped my arms around his back. “Okay…”The next morning, I woke to the crushing sensation of suffocating. Through my blurry vision, I could make out someone leaning over me, squeezing my throat. “You… cough… mmph… cough…” I flailed my arms and tried to call for help, but the grip around my neck only tightened. My consciousness began to fade. Just when I thought my mission was about to fail, the pressure vanished. Fresh air rushed in, and I gulped it down greedily. Once I recovered, I looked at Gavin’s flushed face and whispered fearfully, “Gavin… you…” He’d squeezed so hard that my eyes had filled with tears on their own. At least I wouldn’t have to pinch my thigh. Gavin stared at me, stunned. Then he suddenly bent down and gathered me into his arms. “Julia, I’m sorry… I just… I just hate myself for touching you… How could I be such a bastard…” He did regret touching me. Not because he cared about me, but because he’d failed to keep himself pure for Sophie. Listening to his heartfelt confession, I gently stroked his hair and delivered my lines with devotion. “Don’t say that. You have no idea how happy I am.” “Really…” Gavin stiffened slightly as hazy memories of last night returned. Apparently… it hadn’t felt bad at all. He’d already ruined his purity anyway. And Julia was his actual girlfriend. He wasn’t losing anything. For some reason, he rested his head on my shoulder, unusually gentle. From then on, Gavin was like an animal. Almost every time he saw me, he pounced. He also insisted I move out of my rental and into his apartment. I looked around the luxurious high-rise apartment downtown and sighed to myself. I’d never imagined I would get to experience life as a rich man’s kept woman. “Julia…” While I was lost in thought, Gavin had somehow settled his head on my shoulder. Looking at the glowing clouds beyond the window, I sighed inwardly, then shyly took his hand. “Gavin…” Just as he was about to take things further, his phone rang. Annoyed at the interruption, he frowned and picked it up, only to freeze the moment he saw the screen. He glanced at me, suddenly nervous. “It’s work. I’ll take this over there.” I watched his performance without giving anything away, my gaze lovestruck. “Okay. I’ll wait.” I didn’t need to sneak a look at his phone. According to the plot, today was the day Sophie returned. That call was from her, right after landing. Sure enough, ten minutes later, Gavin grabbed his jacket and hurried toward the door. “Something urgent came up at the office. I need to handle it. Stay safe while I’m gone.” I smiled. “Okay. Come home soon.” Pleased with how accommodating I was, Gavin left without looking back. The moment the lock clicked shut, my tense body finally relaxed. According to the outline the System had given me, Gavin and Sophie were going to spend an unforgettable night together. In other words, Gavin wasn’t coming home until tomorrow. I nearly cried with relief. Thank you, Sophie, for finally giving me a break from this endless grind. At two in the morning, I bagged up the remains of my meal and took the trash downstairs. While I waited for the elevator, my phone rang. An unknown number had sent me a picture. I opened it. Sophie and Gavin were lying in bed together. In the photo, Sophie held her phone in one hand and wrapped her other arm around the sleeping Gavin, smiling sweetly. I glanced at it once, then calmly went back to watching videos. Sophie really had no sense of caution. Wasn’t she worried a broke girl like me might get desperate enough to sell the photo? The Morgan Group heiress would be publicly humiliated. Without Gavin around, I rolled all over the king-size bed by myself. When I finally got tired, I hugged the comforter and fell fast asleep. Not a single dream. “Warning—Warning—” A blaring alarm woke me. The second I opened my eyes, red exclamation marks filled my vision.